Type-writing machine.



W. R. FOX.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

. APPucATIoN man 0m29.191s. 1,177,943. v Patented Apr. 4, 1916.` 3 SHEETS-Sager l.

w-J R.' FOX. TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29, 19H1.

- rPatented Apr. 4, v1916. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- WrLLIAM intox, 'oF-.GaminRAP'IDsMIoH'IGAiv. A f

To ill whom t may concern) citizenof the United States, residing at Grand' Rapids, Michigan, have in'vented' certain'ne'w Aand useful Improvements in Typej Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates toimprovements in typewriting machines. f

The objects of this invention are: First, to

improve Vthe key action Aand lever connections of front-strike typewriting machines.

Second, to provide .an improved combination whereby the work doneby'v the key and key lever is so distributed that the action of the- 'escapement can be made very easy and with thetype ata minimum distance from thel printing point. Third, to distribute the load on the key lever v-so that' 'the best effect and stroke can be given to the type bar. Fourth,

' to; separate the ribbon shift means from the lao eseapement means sojthat the action of the e'scapement shall be easy and also so that the ribbon shift will be actuated to move the ribbon to printing position-by the force of l the full stroke upon the key in advance of the escapement'. j

Furtherobjects andobjects relating to details'and economies of construction and operation will `definitely appear fromthe detailedy description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my' invention by the mechanism described in the following fined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the parts of ya' front-strike typewriter -included and in l volvedin my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure Iris a detail longitudinal sectional elevation view through the central part-of a typewriter, showing the key lever and connection, the universal escapement b a'r land the ribbon shift connections, partly'in section lines, with a single key lever and type bar and connections in position, the shifting type segment being in lower case position.

- Fig. II is a plan view of the structure appearing in Figs. VI and IV, the. platenrollf being omitted. Fig. III is a detail sectional elevation view on line 3-3 of Fig. II, show? ing the escapement universalbar and connect-ions, and the means offsupporting and guiding the same detached from the type bar segment. Fig. IV is a detail perspective giew 'rYPn-wRI'TIn-e MACHINE'.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application med nember saisis. seriaiirofspaiee lOff aise' little-arrows at the Patented Apr; 4,1916".

partsl detached from the machine. F1g.V. 1s corresponding to y the viewk appearing l in FigI, the type barsegment' being shifted'to 'the elevated or 'upper case'position and.- the key'lcver and certain parts being partially lindicated by dotted, lines in depressed position. F ig". VI is a detail perspectiveview of the escapement' push rod with its head. Fig. VII is a rocker for controlling the ribbon shift.

In the drawings', all of the, sectional views are taken lookingends of the section lines, and similar similar parts throughout the several views.

Considering 'the numbered partsof the drawing, I

which the key levers are raised in themachine. Key levers 3 are provided with buttons i at the frontand are fulcrumed at 5 at the rear. Each key lever, -one only of which isillustrated, is provided with a lhorizontal forwardprojecting finger 6 to engage andoperate the correspondingrock leverv l0, whch has a rearwardly projecting specification. The lnvention 1s clearlydearm 9provided with a curved contact surnumerals of reference refer tov desire to state that my invention` here illustrated is adapted to the Well known: Fox typewriter.. The frame l is theframe- 2 is the cross bar:key lever` stop against a detaillongitudinal sectional'view detaily perspective view of the in the direction of. the I face, which in Fig.v I is shown contacted toward its rear end with the engaging finger 6 of the key lever, and in Fig.,V, where the able, as it requires a strong action to vover-- vcome the inertia, vanda rapid movement to follow up after the mital'impulsevto the type bar. -Thegkeylever contact may be .curved instead of thel rock lever` andA secure the same result.'` Gulde fingers 3 are preferably punched from the metal of the key leverto position. y The rock levers 10 are fulcr'urneld at their central portion. 7 on the rod 8 andjrare pro:A rvided` withupwardly projecting hooks 11 This 'secures a retain thearm 9 in theengaging ysame is, bythe dctted'line. shown depressed, j the contact is well toward the front end of `the projecting finger 6.

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which are engagedby springs 12 that are connected to suitabledevices on the frame to put tension on the same yand insure the 'prompt return of all the parts to the initial A position. 1

Each type bari@ fulcrumed at 16 on a suitable hanger 7,'whiclr is carried on the type segment 18. T liis type segment is shiftable up Vand down to take care of the upper and lowercase letters as is common in theFox typewriter: construction. A top j coupler 14is'con`nected by' pivot 13 to the attached thereto and extend rearwardly and Iare secured by pivots 28, 2S 'to the lower end `slide 2T dsposed through a slot 27' upper end ofthe rock'lever 10 and t0 the actuating pivot l5. ofthetype bar 16. It will th us be seen that when the key lever is depressed the type bar is started 4with power- -ful action and is rapidly followed? up until the type Astrikes the platen. n

T he t-ype'bar 'i's notched at 19 close to its fulcrum 16', and is there adapted to strike the universal. bar 20 which, through its connections and supports, actuates the escapement. This universal bar 20 is'carried by a. pair of arms 21, 2l projecting from plate 2Q which is secured by suitable screws through `the holes 22 to the back side of the shifting typey gate. The universal bar 2O is curved so that the contact notch or projection i9 of each type bar will strike it and move it bacl'rwardly. This curved universal bar 2O is secured to bar 2t by suitable rivets Q5 Il, and IV, and has a'forwardly projecting in the plate 22. Rearwardly projecting arms 23, 23 are formed on the supporting bar 2i. or

of downwardly extending link 29, Q9, which are pivoted at 30, to the rear end of arms Q1, 2l at each side. It will thus be seen that i any pressure against the universal bail 2O secures a parallel movement of` these parts in direct line toward the rear. The parts are very light and compact. A horizontal cross bar 31 extends between the arms 23, 23 and on this is carried an upwardly projecting block or` bracket 39., in which is an adjustable thrust pin 34, the position of which is regulated by screw 33 provided with suitable lock nut. .A Y

A sliding trip .pin 36, with an enlarged head 35, is `ipported in suitable downwardly projecting ears 36 on plate 36 secured to frame l of the machine, as clearly appears 1n Figs. l and V, this support being omitted from Fig. II for 4thesake of clearness. The object of this broad disk head isto enable the use of a'round pin which secures easy action and construction and provides a broad surface for the contact of j `the thrust pin 3l carried bythe universal barstructure, so that` no matter in which position the shifting gate may be, whether it is in the upper or in the lower position,

"25 through suitable lugs 26, 26,-see Figs.'

' is provided, the saine being so disposed that the upper ends of the'rock lever l0 will strike against the same to vsecure its actua,- tion. as indicated by full lines in Fig. l.. and the dottedlines in Fig. V. This universal bar 39 has a rearwardly projecting horizontal arm l0 which. is slotted at -ll and slides freely over they pin ft2 which limits and guides'its movement. The spring l puts tension upon this structure and holds it in the forward position. Rearwardly proj ecting arms l5, -l are at eachv side of the univers-.il har P9, carrying pivots i6 which connect to the tops of arins l?, 47 which are connected to the rocking bar 4:9 at their lower ends. This rocker is supported on pivots 7' in the holes di, which pivots are on the main frame. It will thus be seen thatany rearward movement of the universal bar 39 will cause the rocker frame to oscillate.

Projecting rearwardlyY from the cross1 bar 9 is curved arin'ill provided with a slot 5l extending from the front to the rear thereof, the forward end of the said slot which is provided with a pin 52y engaging in the slot 51 at its lowerend connected by pivot -l at its upper end to the ribbon oscillating lever 55 which is fulcrunied at 5G and is connected by pivot 58 to the oscillating ribbon guide 57, as seen 'particu'- larly in Fig. I, and the parts being omitted from Fig. IT.

The lower end of the link 53 is controlled by suitable connections to a key on the keyboard whereby its position is shifted in the slot 5l, thereby regulating the throw of the ribbon mechanism which is desirable forther purpose ofiisiiig dilferent parts of the vribbon, also to shift a particolored ribbon, and by movingl the pivot 52 to the extreme forward end of the slot 51, all movement of the ribbon oscillator is suppressed, which 'is desirable in stencil making. T mention this as a feature here because I do notintend to claim it specifically, but to merely indicate the purpose ofthis particular construction whicn is operated b v vmy iinproved ykey action. Ln this connection. I have illustrated both vthe escapemcnt and the ribbon shift as operated by means of asingle rock lever for and connection toveach key lever. The structure shown in this ap- Serial No. 809,165,

v are provided, one for operati-ng the ribbon' plicati'on can be greatly-modified without departing from the spirit ot my invention,

and I have shown vin mycompanion case, filed December 29, 1913, one modification 1n which two rock levers 4the entire separation of the escapement end of the stroke, asa matter of fact, this mechanism and vits universal bar from the ribbon shift mechanism or any otherfunction as part yot' the type bar or key lever action. .By thus separating the same, the action of the escapement, being .very light,

I am able to securever. rom t action of the escapement by the type bar itself at the may be within al quarter of an inch of the `3 0 Awill be attainable because the ribbon is in platen," as ,I have demonstratedin actual practice with my.. machine. At the same time, .owing to the fact .that the ribbon `mechanism is controlled independently, the

ribbon can be moved very promptly to position onthe full stroke ofthe key, well in advance, of the escapement action, so that the very highest 'speed of' the typewriter position' to print whenever-needed, and the escapement occurs at substantially the instant of printing. This matter is vhighly desirable to secure-a clean-cut'print'and high speed. I desire to claim the mechanism by which I'accomplish this result specifically and I also desire to claim the invention broadly, as indicated in the a'ppended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as' new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination ot a suitable key'lever, a rock lever with curved end to afford a variable leverage,p a ribbon operating universal bar adapted to be acted upon by the said rock lever, a shiftable type bar segment, a type vbar with, a trip contact in close proximity to the pivot thereof, 'an escapement universal bar disposed to be acted upon by the said contact of the type bar when 1t is near the printing point, a parallel movementsupport for said universal bar on the said type bar segment, a push pin carried by Asaid support, an escapement. means, anda -sliding tr1p pin for the-,escapementmechanism carried on the frame and having a broad head to insure contact of the push pm .therewith at all positions of' the type'bar segment, all coacting substantially as described. l 4

,52. In ay typewriting machine, the combination o'fa suitablekeyf lever, a rock 4lever operatively connected therewithya ribbon operating universal bar to be actedupon by the sa1d` rock lever, a shiftabletype bar segment, a type bar with a trip contact in close proximity tothe pivot thereof, an escapement universal bar ldisposed to be acted upon by the said 'contact 'ofthe typel bar whenit'is near the printingipoint, a'paraL' lel movement support for said universal bar on the said type'b'a'r segment,- a push pin carried by vsaid support, an escapemeans,

and a sliding trip pinfor the-escapement mechanism carried on theframe' andhaving' a broad head to insure'contact of the push pin therewith atjall-positions ofthe;l type bar segment, allcoactingfsubstantially as described. v

3. In atypewriting machine, av shiftable type bar segment, av type barwith a trip,`

contact 1n close proximity to thepivot' thereof, an escapement universal bar disposed to' ybe acted upon by said contact of the type bar when it is near the printing point, a supporting'frame with rearwardly projecting parallel arms secured tothe said type bar segment', downwardly depending, links at the rear end of said arnna frame `secured- Ato the said universal bar and connected to the lower endof said links slidablv su pouted on thesaid supporting frame, a. push pin carried bythe said universal bar structure, an escapement means, and a sliding trip pin for the escapement means 'carried on the frame of the machmeand having a v broad head to insure contact of the said push ypintherewith *at all'positions ot the type bar segment, as specified.

.4. In a typewriting machine, a shittable A type bar segment, a type bar with-.a trip contact in close proximity to the pivot thereof, .an escapement universal bar disposed to be actedV upon" by said contact of the type bar when it 'is' near the printing point,

means-for supporting said universal bar on' said typebar' seglnent` a push pin-carried c apement means, and a slidingtrip pin for the escapement means carried 'on the frame specified.'

nation of a suitable key lever, a rock lever operatively connected therewith with curved lis" 5.,. In a typewriting machine, the combi-v end to afford a variable leverage, a ribbon operating universal barto be actuated "by, saidrock lever, a shiftable type bar segment,

a type bar with a tripcontact in close prox- -imity to the pivot thereof, an independent .universal escapement bar carried' by said segment and disposed to be 'acted upon by the printing-point, an escapement, 'and operatlve 'means from said universal' bar to 11o by the said universal bar structure, an` esthe escapement, coacting for the purpose specified.

G. Iii a typeivriting machine, the combi@l nation ola suitable key lever, a rock lever operatively connected therewith, a ribbon operating universal bar to be actuated by said lrock lever, a sliiftable type bar segment, a type bar ivith a trip contact in close prdriiijiity to the pivot thereof, anindependent universal escapement bar cairied by said' segment and disposed to be acted upon by said contact of the type bar ivhen it is near thel printing point, an escapeinent, and operative means fromisaid universal bar to the escapernent', coacting for the purpose specified.

?. In a typeivriting machine.,l the combination of a suit-able key lever,y connections ff U therefrom to the ribbon oscillating mecha,

.nisnig a shit'table type bar segment, a type bar with a. trip Contact in close proximity to the pivot thereof, an independent universal escapement bar carried'by said segment and y, disposed to be ac ted iipon by said contact of the-type bei' when it is near the printing point, an escapernent, and 'operativeineans from said universal bar to theescapeinent7 enacting for the lpurpose specified.

8.V In, a typewritmg machine, the combination of a suitable key lever, a rock lever ,operatively connected thereivithivith curved end to atiord a va `iable leverage, a universal.

bar to be actuated said rock lever, a shittable type bar segment, a type bar vvith a trip contact in close proximity to the pivot thereof, an independent universal escapenicnt bar carried by said segment and dis-v posed to he acted upon b v said Contact of the type bar ivhen' it is near the printingA point, an escapennent` and operative means from said universal bar to the escapement, coacting :tor the purpose specified.

Y 9. In a vtvpcivritin'g machine, the, combination of a suitable key lever, a rock lever one end of ,which has a curved actuating surface to aiiord a variable leverage, a shift able type har segment, a type bar \vitli .a trip contact-in close proximity tothe pivot thereof, a universal escapeinent bar carried by said segment and disposed to be acted upon byfsaid contact ofthe type bar when it is near the printing point, an escapeinent, and operative means fromr said `universal bar to the escapernent, coactinglfor the purpose specied. I,

l0.' In a typeivritingmachine, thev combinationtof a suitable key liever, aiock le- 4ver operatively connected. therewith, a. rib- `loon operating universal bar adaptedto be actuated by the upperend ot saidirock lever,'a shiftable type bar segment, a typeibar pivotedtherein, a link connecting said type "bar with theupner end of said rock lever, `said type bar being provided with altrip contact in close proximity to the pivot tnereof, anesoapenient universal bar carried bv saidvshiftable type bar segment and posi tioned to be acted upon by the said. contact of the type bar when it is at or near the printingpointA and connections from said universal bar to the escapement mechanism,

all coacting substantially as described-.tor

'the purpose specified.

In ivitness ivheijeoi, I have hereunto set rin v hand and seal in the presentent? two witnesses. y

WILLIAM AWitnesses PEARL l2. LiLLiia, V C. B. Di'is J.\.iini: s.y

ir rox. y. it. il 

